An Analysis Of The Subtitle Translation In Miranda From The Functionalist Theory

With the development of modern information and communication technology, our lives have changed a great deal. Technical innovations like the popularity of satellite television and internet bring modern people mass pieces of audio-visual information, which increases the demand for subtitle translation. So the studies on subtitle translation become to draw attention of some scholars. In this paper, the author tries to carry out a study on subtitle translation of a British TV series from the perspective of functionalist translation theory.According to functionalist theory, the subtitle translation is a purposeful activity constrained by its skopos, which can define the translation results at the beginning of translation. Subtitle translation also involves many factors, it is an intercultural interaction in which the subtilter should consider the distinction between source text and target text cultures background in order to make suitable subtitles accepted by target audience. Moreover, subtitle translation is a text-processing action, the author should analyzes ST and TT in order to apply the appropriate translation strategies to subtitling in order to reach the translation skopos.Chinese studies on subtitle translation started rather late compared with that of western countries. Until now, works and articles in regard to the application of a systematic translation theory to subtitle translation are a rare thing in China. Taking functionalist theory as the theoretical basis, the paper tries to discuss subtitle translation from the three related aspects.Miranda, a very popular British TV series, is taken as a case for study. And the study mainly involves the discussion of translation strategies such as reducing source text, addition, literal translation, and adaptation with the intention to help subtitle translators improve their work and consequently achieve the goals of subtitle translation.The paper consists of five chapters:Chapter one mainly deals with an introduction to deduce the research background of the subtitle translation.Chapter two is concerned with the features and constraints of subtitle translation, and involves previous research on it both in China and abroad as well. Chapter three is the theoretical framework, in which subtitle translation is discussed in three parts:a purposeful activity, an interpersonal interaction and a text-processing action. Chapter four takes Miranda as a case to testify the functionalist approach applied to subtitle translation. The author studies the translation strategies in the TV series not only from the view of the scriptwriter but also from Chinese audience. Chapter five serves as a conclusion of the whole paper.